Vera Louisa Buja

Vera fitted the last piece of her puzzle in place on July 19th. The picture she created was beautiful. Full of knitted cables, crocheted doilies and dish towels, mincemeat pies, potent rum balls, and tidy columns of figures that always added up properly. She is taking a well-deserved break before she starts working on the next puzzle. The biggest puzzle of them all. Joe will probably be there to help her, although knowing him he will hide a piece just to confound her. And if it's at all possible she will most likely check on us all just to make sure we are okay. That includes Anne Perry, her favourite author, and Anne Logie, her dear friend. And let's not forget her faithful friends from Windsor, Evelyn Lemire and Chris Gillis. And of course there is Vera's childhood friend, Joan Sears in England. While we are on the subject of her native England, she is sure to be missed by her nephew and phone friend, Philip Waldock, as well as her niece Carole Giles, and Carole's children Nick, Laura, and Stuart. Dear Patricia Pope, she will be looking in on you, too. It is important to note that Vera, born in 1933, survived the Blitz, being evacuated during the war, the trans-Atlantic voyage to Canada, the loss of her husband Joe, the transcontinental trip to Victoria, and many of the difficulties that come with aging gracefully. She also made a huge contribution to any organization she joined, including the Loyal Order of the Moose and the Seniors' Center close to her home. Although years ago Vera yearned to celebrate Christmas with just her husband and children instead of the whole clan, she no doubt will be most pleased this holiday season to rejoin her parents, Thyrza and Charles Smith, and the rest of the family: Joan and Bill, George and David, and Bert and Olwyn. And I'm sure Elsie and Lloyd will show up on a motorbike. Vera will never be forgotten by her daughter, Jacqueline (so named because it sounded exotic) because they shared a love of movies, male movie stars specifically. Her daughter-in law Dianne will think of her every day around 2:00 pm because that is when they would gab on the phone for ages about anything and everything. And me, her son John, will be ever grateful to her for passing on her love of history and reading. And old movies. You know, the black and white ones that she went to with her friend Joan. The good stuff. When stars were really stars. Lorraine Rouleau has a special place in all our thoughts because she made Vera's last few months full of laughter and good meals, and a comfy bed. Frieda, Linda and Trish: Vera appreciated your friendship.